Education

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The regular monthly Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors meeting was held Monday, November 16 at Kee High School in Lansing. Board Members Bruce Palmborg, Bobbie Goetzinger, Kelli Mudderman, Melanie Mauss and Board President Heather Schulte were present, along with Board Secretary/Business Manager Marian Verdon, Kee High School and Middle School Principal Mary Hogan, New Albin Elementary Principal Chad Steckel and EACSD Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier.

American Education Week, observed November 16-20, presents Americans with an opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are working to make a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education. This year’s theme for American Education Week is "Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility".
Allamakee Community Education Association (ACEA) is a membership of teachers from the Allamakee Community School District dedicated to that principle. The Association takes pride in working positively and progressively for the needs of students, staff and the community.

As the beef industry in Iowa continues to expand its share of the state’s economy, Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is committed to the vitality of the cattle industry through excellence in postsecondary agriculture education and by developing state-of-the-art facilities.
In September, NICC began preparing a site for the new Beef Science Technology Building at the Calmar campus. The $1.2 million facility, which will be located just north of Iowa’s Dairy Center, replaces an aging building. The new 13,750 sq. ft. mono slope beef shelter will be used primarily by Beef Science Technology program students, as well as students enrolled in all of the college’s ag programs, including Large Animal Veterinary Technician, Agriculture Business and Dairy Science.

The Waukon High School musical production of “Guys and Dolls” scheduled for later this week will have a slight schedule change due to the continuing advancement of the Waukon football team through the Class 2A State Play-Offs. With the football Indians now playing in the Class 2A quarterfinal round this Friday, November 6, it has been decided to move the scheduled Friday evening performance of “Guys and Dolls” to a Sunday, November 8 matinee performance beginning at 2 p.m. in the Waukon High School Auditorium. The Thursday and Saturday evening performances will remain as scheduled, beginning at 7 p.m.
Reservations can be made for all performances by e-mailing waukonmusical@live.com or by contacting Brenda Dougherty at 563-568-7997. Current ticket holders for Friday will be given seating preference for Sunday's performance.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) board of directors met for a special meeting Monday, October 5. The Board approved the hiring of Andrew Eberling as a 40 hour per week mechanic at the bus barn. The Board also approved the Annual Progress Report, Comprehensive School Improvement Plan and District Developed Service Delivery Plan, as well as the Teacher Leadership and Compensation Plan. Specifications for the digital phone system were approved and bids will be submitted by noon October 20, 2015. A consortium contract with Decorah Community School District was also approved for special education services.

In order to continue the trend of falling student loan debt default rates in the state of Iowa, Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) has taken a proactive approach by implementing new intervention strategies and offering loan repayment services for its students.
“Students who are retained and complete a credential are overwhelmingly able to repay loans, so the college focuses our efforts on early prevention, retention and degree completion to attain a family-sustaining wage,” explained Kristin Dietzel, NICC executive director of institutional effectiveness. “Students who achieve a 15-credit threshold are much more likely to complete their program of study, graduate, obtain strong employment, repay debt and contribute to the community.”

Waukon High School seniors Wyatt Wille (left) and Leslie Sivesind (right) were crowned Waukon High School's 2015 Homecoming King and Queen at the traditional "Burning of the 'W'" pep rally Thursday evening, October 1 at the Waukon High School gym. Additional photos of Waukon High School's Homecoming events are featured on Page 16A inside this week's issue, as well as coverage of Waukon's Homecoming victory over Waterloo Columbus featured on Page 9A this week.
 

Kee High School seniors Nate Wood (left) and Erin Rud (right) were crowned Kee High School's 2015 Homecoming King and Queen at the annual pep rally held in the Kee High School gymnasium Friday afternoon, October 2. Additional photos of Kee High School's Homecoming festivities are featured on Page 15A of this week's issue of The Standard, along with coverage of the Hawks' Homecoming game with West Central featured on Page 10A inside this week's issue. Photo courtesy of the Kee High School yearbook.
 

Fourth grade students from East Elementary School in Waukon took a field trip Wednesday, September 30 to Waukon City Park where Ross Geerdes, Allamakee County Conservation Naturalist, led students in a series of activities designed to enhance lessons already being taught in the classroom. In the first activity of the day, entitled “Oh Deer!” (part of which is pictured above), students learned about how habitat and the predator/prey relationship affect the population of deer. Students pictured above were representing the habitat needs for wildlife, including shelter (hands peaked over their heads), food (hands held against their stomachs) and water (hand held to their mouth), and were selected by other students representing the deer population until no longer available in an effort to provide further learning impact for the activity.